Barton Springs in Austin, Texas

Barton Springs is, in essence, a recreational pool area built over a natural phenomenon in Austin Texas. It sits on top of Edwards Aquifer which supplies all the water. The water that flows from Edwards Aquifer is always a chilly 68 degrees, which didn't seem to dissuade any of the other Austin citizens from swimming in it that day. But it did discourage me, and I barely got in past my ankles. Some serious athletes arrived with wet suits, and they seemed to be the only ones brave enough to last very long in the water and literally swam laps around everyone else.

Barton Springs is located in Zilker Park on the South Side of Austin Texas, close to the Botanical Gardens (www.zilkergardens.org). It's nestled in a pleasant little valley, and it's not visible from street level. This is helpful information and something I wish we knew before passing the place three times in a row. If you're smart, unlike us, you'll get a map before you go looking for it.

From the outside, it just looks like a building. There is parking available directly in front of that building which houses some changing rooms and bathrooms. Also available in this area are several informational signs and plaques. The history of Barton Springs is actually very interesting, and these are well-worth looking at. But the swimming area itself is behind all this.

The fee is three dollars per adult to get in, and you can stay as long as you want. Just like at any other public pool, you will want to be sure to watch your things to prevent them from being stolen. There is a diving board, a wading pool, and there are even floatation devices available.

Now that I've filled you in on the details, let me tell you what I honestly think. We asked someone reputable at the beginning of our trip, "What should we definitely see while we're in Austin?" They told us to check out Barton Springs. Honestly, we could've skipped it. There was nothing special about it outside of its historical significance. It's definitely worth a stop by and a look, but you won't really miss much if you skip it altogether.

Also, I myself didn't quite see the appeal. Maybe the temperature of the water is great for athletes after a workout. Maybe the locals have a soft spot for it from their childhood. Goodness knows I had some hangouts that wouldn't look like much to the tourist. But my thoughts were, if you want to go swimming, why not just go to a pool?

Because it was a natural spring, the bottom of the structure was filthy, it was, in essence, like a pond or a lake without much wildlife. I've always been a bit squeamish about lakes myself, so I've always preferred a pool.

So if you want to go swimming, you may want to find something else. If you want to see a landmark unique to Austin or feel the naturally cold water from Edwards Aquifer, go ahead and give it a shot. But don't expect too much, because it is, essentially, a pond. The cheap admission is great, but if you take the time to book a hotel with a pool, technically, that would be free once you're in Austin.

I'd actually really appreciate some outside input on Barton Springs from a citizen of Austin who "gets it". My husband and I left a little confused as to its appeal, which I hate to say, because I realize what a snob it makes me sound like. So I should apologize for offending anyone, but in my opinion, this is one Austin site you can feel free to skip.